Thesis. Tim Slaughter- Although women in Africa and the Islamic world both were subjugated to the will of the men in their life, African women were allowed to trade in the market and did not have to wear a veil

Thesis. Kayla Klabunde- All women around the world were subject to a patriarchal society, but each nation differed in their rights and freedoms. These included being veiled in Islam, being blamed for witchcraft in Europe, and having more economical rights in Africa.

Thesis. Jared Baxter- Each nation of the world was formed by a patriarchal society, while women were always subjected to men their rights and freedoms differed.

Kayla, your thesis is good :) I mean, Tim's is too, but the prompt didn't just ask for Africa and Islam, so it's good your thesis first addressed a like, more general idea of the whole gender system deal. If that makes sense! :D - Kriz

Jared, i think your thesis is a little broad. it still covers the idea of the promt, but i think there could be more added :) -alex

In Africa women enjoyed more freedom than in other parts of the world. While gender did control the roles in society, women were still given important roles vital to the societies success.
womens roles included:
  • planting and harvesting
  • domestic chores
  • child bearing
Unlike other parts of the world, African societies allowed for more opprotunties for women to gain power.
  • women mechants traded in markets and engaged in long distance trade
  • women were also involved with the military

In Islamic societies before Muhammad , women had many freedoms. Some of thier rights included:
  • Women could legally inherit property, as well as legally own property.
  • They could divorce their husband, and remarry.
  • Women were allowed to engage in business ventures.
  • The Quran enchanced women's security.

However, after the Seal of the Prophet, gender relations went in a different direction. The Quran and the Sharia reinforced male dominance. Some policies included:
  • When going into public, women had to wear a veil (adopted from Mesopotamia and Persia) to cover their face and often had to be accompanied by a close male relative.
  • Men were allowed to have multiple wives.
  • Two women equaled one man in court

In Europe, women had few freedoms but had to endure a partriarchial society as well. Their rights included:
  • They could own and inherit property.
  • Women often entered into a religious life by becoming a nun
  • Women ran households when men were away (Ex: The Crusades , although women greatly wanted to go along but were banned from them by the Pope)
  • They had no or little political freedoms, but they varied if they were in realtion to the monarch
  • Lower class women had more rights, and got to work with their husbands while being protected by serfdom.
However:
  • Women were often blamed for witchcraft and persecuted
Christianity spread throughout Europe which had great appeal to women because it gave them higher status in society.

Excellent! But what about China and stuff, like that one practice (I need to look up the name for...) where women would like, die over their husband's grave or something. (I think it's China? lol) okay so it's not a practice in China, it's a practice in India. lol and it is known as sati! sorry :D! And how like, Confucianism focused on five fundamental relationships which included husband and wife. And like, how that Confucianism and class structure dominated China but with the Communist Revolution, the class-based system was nearly erased and equality demanded in a class-less society led to advances for women: they were treated equally as far as law was concerned, they gained the right to divorce their husbands, they gained property rights, they received equal pay and were encouraged to pursue professional careers. Yeah! - Kriz

Oh! and if you guys have the Princeton Review review (that's repetitive...) book, you could go to the index and look under women lol :D

Validated:
Russell todd
Validated:
Alex Schuler...btw "kriz" lol this isnt supposed to be about china so y would they add anything about it?! ha

Well, I was just trying to say that maybe we should consider other regions and their gender systems, which is why I mentioned China... - Kriz.